Measuring device.



PATENTED DEC, 22, 1903.

C. HALD.

MEASURING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29. 1902.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

Qvihwoo v Grimm :1

No. 747,701. PATENTED DEC. 22, 1903. U. HALD.

MEASURING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. 1902. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z? 7 I I 8 Zj C 9/ 3] J8 ggi .9 6 r 15.,

Z1 9 h ZZ J4 L54 171590 J2 10 H j r.

W I 7 j Z] 33 6 I; 32 I j a J3 J4 29? i m A J 7 15 Z9 50 [7 j? 5 5 Z9 Z951 35- I I I If I I I UNITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

CHARLES HALD, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

MEASURING DEVICE.

$PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,701, dated December22, 1903.

Application filed November 29, 1902. serial No. 133,227. (No model.)

To ctZZ whmn it ntay concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES HALD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Measuring Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved liquid-measuring deviceoperating in conjunction with an ordinary faucet and including meansadapted to be closed or shut ofif by the action of the measuring devicewhen the desired quantity of liquid has been drawn.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide aliquid-measuring device which is simple and durable in construction andserves to automatically shut off the flow of'liquid by electricaldevices cooperating with an auxiliary valve and the measuring device,such as a scale, so as to prevent overflow and loss of the liquid and atthe same time gradually measure the desired amount of the liquid flowinginto a receiving vessel.

The invention consists in the construct-ion and arrangement of theseveralparts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimedand subject to a wide range in the modification of the details, as wellas in the proportions and dimensions, to adapt the improved measuringdevice and controlling means for different applications and uses.

In the drawings, Figure l isa side elevation of a portion of acontaining vessel providing the source of supply and having a faucet inconnection therewith and also showing the improved measuring and controlling devices in operative relation thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlargedside elevation of the auxiliary valve mechanism attached to a faucet andshowing means for controlling the valve thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevationof the auxiliary valve mechanism looking toward the side thereofopposite that shown by Fig. 2. Fig. dis a top plan view of the auxiliaryvalve mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevationol' a catch orlocking device forming part of the auxiliary valve mechanism.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a barrel, tank, or other receptacle forming asource of supply of any particular liquid adapted to be drawn therefromand having the usual valved faucet 2.

The present improved measuring and controlling mechanism is adapted tobe quickly detached from one faucet and applied to another and theapparatus readily shifted from one position to another to accommodatethe change of application.

The measuring device and controlling means forming the gist of thisinvention comprise an auxiliary valve mechanism 3 under electricalinfluence, and a scale 4, electrically connected to the said valvemechanism. The auxiliary valve mechanism includes a valvechamber 5,preferably in the form of a vertically-disposed cylinder having an upperinlet for the reception of the outlet end of the faucet 2, as clearlyshown by Fig. 1. Near the bottom of the chamber 5 a cut-off valve of asuitable form is mounted and has the ends of its stem 6 projectedoutwardly therefrom for engagement by exterior devices, which will nowbe set forth. On one of the projecting ends of the stem 6 is a lever 7,having a terminal knob 8, and connected to one edge of the lever at anintermediate point is the one terminal of a retractile spring 9, havingits opposite terminal secured to an arm 10,projecting outwardly in ahorizontal plane from the upper portion of the chamber 5. The functionof the spring 9 is to draw the lever 7 rapidly upwardly into theposition shown by Fig. 1, and when said lever is in this position thecut-off valve will prevent the flow of liquid from the chamber 5.

Extending from the bottom of the chamher 5 is a suitable base-plate orplatform 11, and depending below the latter and communicating with thesaid chamber is an outletspout 12. The base-plate or platform llprojects exclusivelyin a horizontal plane to one side of the chamber5,and thereon are disposed a series of electric andelectrically-controlled devices for automatically releasing the lever 7and permitting it to resume its normal position, as shown by Fig. 1. Theelectric devices include a horseshoe-magnet 13 of usual form and havingcoils on the poles thereof. Pivot-ally mounted to cooperate with thepoles of the magnet is an armature 14, having a retracting-spring 15secured to, the outer end thereof and to a suitably-shaped arm 16, heldby a support 17, secured on the plate or platform 11, the said spring 15acting to draw the armature 14 away from the magnet-poles a suitabledistance, which is controllable by an adjusting-screw 18, mounted in anupstand ing portion of the support 17 and clearly shown by Fig.4.

Projecting outwardly from one side edge of the base-plate or platform 11is a bracket 19, having an upstanding member 20, and pivoted to theupper part of one side of the said member is a latch 21, which isadapted to project over a portion of the side edge of the plate orplatform below. The latch is normally disposed at an angle and has itsinner end arranged upwardly and so held by a retractile spring 22,secured to the outer terminal thereof and to an arm 23, projectingforwardly from the upper portion of the member 20, and below said latcha dog 24 is pivotally mounted and has an upper head 25 with a convexedge to bear against the outer portion of the lower edge of the latchand hold the latter in horizontal position, as clearly shown by Fig. 5.Connected to the lower pivotal point of the latter is a rod 26, alsomovably attached to the central portion of the armature 14.

On the platform or plate 11 adjacent to the magnet 13 is aconducting-plate 27, having a suitable binding-screw 2S, and extendingfrom said plate 27 at right angles toward the base of a chamber 5 is aspring contact-arm 29, which is normally held elevated at its freeextremity by terminally bending the same in an upward direction.Extending under the spring contact-arm 29 is one member of an ll.-shaped conductor-plate 30, firmly secured on the base-plate orplatform 11, and a conduoting-wire 3]. is secured to the binding screwor post 28, and between one coil of the magnet 13 and theconductingplate 30 is a wire Between the opposite coil and abinding-post 33 is another connecting-wire, 34, and also attached tosaid binding-post is a wire 35. On the projecting end of the valvestem 6opposite to that having the lever 7attached thereto is a wiper 29,gradually converged toward its free extremity and slightly curveddownwardly. This wiper engages the contact-arm 29 when the lever 7 isthrown down to open the valve in the chamber 5, and the pressure exertedon the arm 29 by the wiper forces said arm into engagement with theconductor-plate 30 and causes a continuation of the electricalconnections between wire 31 and the one coil of the magnet 13 throughthe medium of the wire 32 and conducting-plate 27.

The scale 4 comprises a base 36, having an upright 37 rising therefrom,on which is fulcrumed a beam 38,having scale marks and divisionsrepresenting pounds and fractions thereof applied thereto and alsoprovided with a movable weight 39. Rising from the base or platform 36is a hollow casing or standard 40, in which the ordinary springmechanism of other scale devices is mounted, and movably extendingoutwardly therefrom is the usual scale'post or pan-support 41,havingaplatform orpan 42 on the upperend there of. The beam 38 isprojected beyond the upright 37 and attached to the post 41, theplatform 42 and the scale mechanism cooperating therewith being disposeddirectly below the spout 12 of the valvechamber 5. Projecting outwardlyfrom the post 41 is an arm 43, carrying a depending contact 44 at itsfree end, and projecting outwardly from the upper portion of the casingor hollow standard 40 is an arm 45, having an upwardly-projectingcontact 46 at its free end in alinement with the contact 44. The wire 35from the auxiliary valve mechanism connects with the contact 44, and thewire 3l from said valve mechanism runs to a battery 47, said batteryalso being connected by a wire 48 to the contact 46 to thereby completethe circuit.

In operation the faucet 2 is opeued,after the auxiliary valve mechanismhas been applied thereto, to permit the contents of the barrel orreceptacle 1 to flow into the valve-chainber 5, the said faucet beingpermitted to remain open as long as the auxiliary valve mechanism isapplied thereto. When it is desired to permit a certain quantity of thecontents of the receptacle or barrel 1 to be dispensed, the weight 39 isfirst adjusted on the beam 38 to measure such quantity, and the can orreceptacle is then placed on the platform 42 of the scale, as clearlyshown by Fig. l, the mouth of the can being directly under the nozzle orspout 12 of the auxiliary valve mechanism. During this arrangement thelever 7 will be permitted to remain in the position shown by Fig. l; butafter the can or receptacle has been placed on the platform 42 the saidlever is turned down to a horizontal position, as shown by Fig. 2, andis caught under the latch 21, and simultaneously the spring-finger 29 isforced downwardly by the wiper 29 against the contactplate 30. The latch21 is held in the position shown by Fig. 5 by drawing the dog 24thereunder and causing the convex edge of the head thereof to bearagainst the end portion of the outer edge of the latch, and when thelever 7 is turned down to a horizontal posi tion (shown by Fig. 2) andheld in lowered position by the latch 21 it will be under the forcefulretractile influence of the spring 9, and by lowering the said lever thevalve in the chamber 5 will be opened, and the contents of th barrel orreceptacle 1 will be permitted to flow into the can or other vesselarranged on the scale-platform 42. It will be observed that when theparts are in this position the circuit is open and so remains until thedesired quantity of liquid has passed into the can on the platform 42,and when such amount of liquid has entered the can the post '41 will belowered and bring the contacts 44 and 46 into engagement with eachother, thereby closing the circuit and energizing the magnet 13 andcausing the armature 14 to be drawn toward or in contact with the polesof said magnet and simultaneously release the dog 24 from the latch 21through the medium of the rod 26. \Vhen the dog 24 is released, thelever '7 will immediately fly upwardly to the position shown by Fig. 1and instantly cut olf the flow of liquid and the circuit will be againbroken, irrespective of the depression of thepost 4 and engagement ofthe contacts 44 and 46, by reason of the fact that the wiper 29 willhave been thrown upwardly and the spring contactfinger 29 released fromengagement with the contact-plate 30, and by this means excitement ofthe magnet after the release of the lever 7 will be avoided and thearmature 14 will not again be shifted or moved until the apparatus orelectrical devices are reset by again lowering the lever '7 to fillanother can or vessel disposed upon the scale-platform 42.

The improved device will be found exceptionally useful and convenient inits operation and reliable in accurately measuring the exact amountdesired to pass into a can or vessel supported on the scale below theoutlet of the auxiliary valve mechanism, and to render the contacts 44and 46 effective they will be insulated from their arms 43 and 45 by theintroduction. of any suitable material.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1.Ina measuring device the combination with a chamber having a valvetherein means to hold the valve closed, and an operating means for thevalve, of means for holding the valve open, electrical devices forautomatically releasing the valve, a scale having electricalcontacts,electrical connections between said contacts and the devicesfor releasing the valve, a circuit-closer in said connections and meansoperable by the valve for operating said closer.

2. In a measuring device, the combination with a chamberhaving a valvetherein, means to close the valve and an operating-lever for the valve,of means for holding the valve open, electrical devices forautomatically releasing the valve, a scale having electrical contacts,electrical connections between said contacts and the devices forreleasing the valve, a spring circuit-closer in the connections andnormally open and means operable by the valve for closing the circuitcloser when the valve is opened.

3. In a measuring device, the combination with a chamber having a valvetherein, means to close the valve and an operating-lever, of means forengaging the lever to hold the valve open, electrical devices forautomatically releasing the valve-lever, a scale having electricalcontacts,electrical connections between said contacts and the devicesfor releasing the valve, a spring circuit-closer in the connections andnormally open, and an arm operable by the valve for closing thecircuit-closer when the valve is open.

4. In a measuring device of the class set forth, the combination with afaucet, of auxiliary valve mechanism comprising a valvechamber having avalve with a projecting stem and an outlet-nozzle, a spring-actuatedlever attached to one end of the stem, an electrical circuit-closingdevice carried by the opposite end of the stem, electrical devicesadjacent to the valve-chamber and including a latch for automaticallyreleasing the lever on the valve-stem and'permitting the said lever toreturn to normal position and close the valve, a scale having electricalcontacts, and electrical connections between the contacts of the scaleand the electrical devices of the auxiliary valve mechanism.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES IIALD. l/Vitnessesz F. WEBER, JOHN lllUSSEHL.

